Jena 6

September 20, 2007

4th Block

Jena Six Essay

On September 2006 in Jena, Louisiana a black student asked for permission from a school teacher to sit under the shade of a tree but only white students sat under that tree I was called the white tree. School officials told the black students that they could sit wherever they wanted to sit and they did. The next day three nooses, in the school colors, were seen hanging from the white tree. The school principal found out that three white students were responsible for hanging the three nooses. The principal recommended that the three white students be expelled but the white superintendent over ruled the principal and gave the three students a three day suspension. The superintendent did not expel the students because he believed that the nooses were only a youthful stunt. When black students found out about the nooses they decided to organize a sit in under the tree to protest the lenient treatment given to the noose hanging white students. Racial tensions remained elevated throughout the fall but on Monday, December 4, 2006, a white student who allegedly had been racially taunting black students in support of the students who hung the nooses got into a fight with the black students. Allegedly the white student was taken to the hospital for treatment for being beat but he was later released and attended a social function later that day. As a result of the incident six black students were arrested and charged with attempted second degree murder. All six of the black students were expelled from school and were charged with 140,000 dollars or less bail. On the morning of the trial the District Attorney reduced the charged with attempted second degree murder to second degree aggravated battery and conspiracy. The prosecutor was allowed to argue with the jury that the tennis shoes worn by Bell could be considered